Flash light



May s, 192s. 1,669,314

G. V. C. VREELAND FLASH LIGHT Filed June 3. IZO

7 @5% @@,Mfu mi GHG: new@ Patented May 8, 19,28.

UNITED lsTATlezs PATENT orales.

GEORGE v. U. VBEELAND, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO yNATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, ING., A ORPORATION Ol' 'NEW YORK.

man LIGHT.

Application led June 8, 1920. Serial No. 888,829.

This invention relates to portable battery lamps of the kind commonly known as flashlights. It relates more particularl to battery lamps employing a curved re ector arl ranged to collect the light-rays from an incandescent filament and rproject them forward in a regular beam, and to devices whereby the base of the bulb containing the incandescent filament may be protected from l injurious impacts such as those occasioned,

for example, by dropping the ashlight to the Hoor.

The objects of the invention are to provide im roved means whereby the incandescent b b may be positioned with respect to the reiiector in such a manner as to obtain the desired form of the beam of light projected by the lamp, and to provide a resilient mounting for the incandescent bulb to enable it tomove under the iniiuence of impacts upon its base, such movement permitting the energy of the impact to be absorbing in the resillent members of the bulbmounting.

I attain these objects by following the principles of construction embodied in the speciiic embodiment hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a {iashlight embodying m invention,

Fig. 2 shows an e evation of the holder for the incandescent bulb and certain attachments of said holder, parts being shown in section, and

Fig. 3 shows a section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 5 is the usual cylindrical casing containing the battery 6. The lower end of the casing is closed by a screw-cap 7, and spring 8 supports the battery 6 and makes contact with its zinc electrode. The conductor strip 9 connects the spring 8 and ca 7 with one terminal of the incandescent bulb 10, through parts which will hereafter be described. A gap in conductor strip 9 is bridged by any suitable switch mechanism 11 The lamp-head 12 screws onto the upper end of casing 5, and carries thereector 13 and the plane glass 14, which are attached to it by the screw-threaded ring 15 in an obvious manner. Behind the reiector is the"contact disc 16 which is insulated from the reflector by a disc of fiber or the like 17. The inturned end 29 of conductor strip 9 bears against disc 16 and completes' the electrical circuit. The sleeve 18 which holds the reflector and the discs 16 and 17 to ether also serves .as a guide for the bulbolder 19, which vslides in its guide as will be de scribed.

` The bulb-holder 19 is tubular and has a smooth exterior surface forming a sliding t with theguide 18. The u per section of the holder has a female threa to receive the base 2O of the bulb 10. The lower end of the holder contains a thick disc of strong insulating material 21, rigidly affixed in the tubular holder by rolling an inwardly projecting rib in the holder 19 immediately in front of the disc 21, and crimping in the walls of the bulb-holder behind the disc. A metal stud 22 having an expanded rear portion 23 forms an electrical connection between the carbon pole of the batter and the central terminal of the bulb, whic is screwed down into contact with it.

The bulb-holder is retained within its guide by an outwardly projecting flange 24, which may conveniently be formed by upsetting the upper end of the holder, and a spring-retaining ring 25, which may be soldered or otherwise attached to the lower ortion of bulb-'holder 19. Encircling the ower portion of the bulb-holder is a helical spring 26, abuttin at its upper end against the ange 27 on t e lower end of the guide 18, and retained in its position by the retaining ring 25. The spring 26, after being compressed, is expanslble to force the bulbholder 19A downward and thereby bring the bulb 1() closer to the reflector 13.

Movement of the bulb 10 with respect to the reflector for focussing purposes may be obtained by turning the end cap 7. The center carbon electrode or contact of the battery is maintained in engagement with the conductive stud 23 of the lamp holder during focusing ad'ustment, by the opposed helica slides along and is positively guided axially of the case by the sleeve 18, whereby the battery and lam holder moving as a unit are guided axial y of the case by the guide sleeve 18 and the movements of the battery are cushioned. In the position of the parts shown in Fig, 1, the cap 7 has been withdrawn from full engagement with the casing to such an extent that the stress on sprin 8 has become insulicient to force bulbiolder 19 away from its extreme lower position. By screwing cap 7 onto the casing, the stress on spring 8 will become sufiicient to .raise the bulb-holder and move the bulb away from the reflector until a focus is obtained. The motion of the bulb under these conditions will be less than thatof cap 7, as spring 8 will undergo compression with the increased stress thereon. The parts are so designed and proportioned that a focus may be obtained with bulbs exhibiting extreme variations from average dimensions without decreasing the stress on spring 8 to a degree which would endanger the necessary positive contact between this spring and the battery, and without compressing spring 26 to its limit, since a further shortening of this s ring must be possible at all times to absor impacts upon the bulb-holder.

The disc of insulating ,material 21 will act to protect the base 20 of bulb 10 from injurious shocks from the rear. Any impact upon the expanded end 23 of the conductor 22 will be transmitted directly to disc 21,

since the shoulder formed by expanding the fl end of the conductor is in close' contact with disc 21. As disc 21 is firmly attached to bulb-holder 19, the impact will be transmitted to the bulb-holder and cannot be trans mitted to the base of the bulb. Since, however, the bases of miniature bulbs are rather fragile as ordinaril constructed, the additional protection a orded by thecushioning spring 26 will be of value. This spring permits the bulb-holder to yield under impact and to extend the time during which the impact is absorbed, and decreases the destructive effects of the impact. Owing to the protective action of spring 26, the disc 21 may in some casesY be omitted, and the carbon pole of the battery permitted to bear directly afrainst the base 20. However, because of the additional protection afforded by the disc 21, I refer to employ such a disc, or its equiva ent, between the battery and lamp.

I claim:

1. A portable focusing electric light comprising the combination of an incandescent lamp; a battery adapted to be connected in circuit therewith; a reflector having an aperture through which said lamp projects; a holder for said lamp; a case carryingy said lamp, battery, reflector and holder in axial alinement; and means operative to adjustv said lamp and said reflector relatively to one another comprising a helical spring disposed about the axis of said holder and between said reflector and said batte said battery, holder and lamp being movalbl as a unit for purposes of adjustment and said helical spring constituting a shock absorber to cushion impacts of the battery against the lamp holder, to substantially prevent injury to the lamp.

2. A flashlight comprising the combination of an incandescent lamp; a battery having a center electrode; a reflector having an aperture through which said lamp projects; a bodily adjustable holder for said lam means for guiding said holder along t e axis of said aperture; a case carrying said lamp, battery, reflector, and holder in axial alineinent; conductive means carried by said holder and electrically connecting said lam and the center electrode of said battery, suc connection being maintained during all adjustments of said holder; and means comprising a device rotatable on the exterior of said case for adjusting said holder andthe lamp carried thereby axially relatively to said reflector such adjusting means com rising a coil spring coaxial with and exten ing longitudinally of such lamp holder.

3. A flashlight focusing device, comprising a holder carrying an incandescent lamp and having a flange, a reflector, a shoulder on the reflector adapted to abut against the flange, a spring normally tending to hold the ange against said shoulder, and means for adjusting the lamp holder.

4. A protective device for the incandescent lamps of portable electric lights, comprising a lamp carrying holder having a flange, a reflector, a shoulder on the reflector adapted to abut against the flange, and a sprin normally holding said flange a ainst said shoulder and adapted to ield un er impacts directed aganist the hol er.

5. A focusing assembly comprising a re- .flector having an aperture; a lamp holder having a flange; means for slidably supporting said holder and `guidin it along the axis of said aperture; shoul er means carried by said reflector and cooperating with said flange to limit the movement of said holder; and spring means tending to hold said flange against said shoulder means and adapted to yield in response to pressure against said holder.

' 6. A portable focusing electric light comprising the combination of an incandescent lamp member; a battery adapted to be connected in circuit therewith; a reflector member associated with said lamp member; a holder for said lamp member; a casin carrying said lamp, battery, reflector an holder in axial alinement; and means operative to adjust one of said members relatively to the other, including opposed helical springs adapted to cushion the axial movements of said battery.

comprising the combination of a reflector having an aperture; a battery coaxial with said aperture and having a, contact; an incandescent lamp projecting through said 126 7. A self-contained focusing electric light i aperture and adapted to be connected in circuit with said battery; a holder for said lamp, said holder being coaxial with said battery and having a conductive contact engageable by said batte contact; and means operative to effect relative axial focusing adjustment of said reflector and said lamp and holder comprising coil springs coaxial with said holder and said battery and adapted to maintain said contacts in engagement during such focusing.

8. A. self-contained focusing electric light comprising the combination of 'a reflector havlng an aperture; a battery coaxial with said aperture and having a contact; an incandescent lamp projecting through said aperture and adapted to be connecte in circuit with said battery; a holder for saidv lamp between said reilector and battery, said holder being coaxial with said battery and having a conductive contact engageable by said battery contact; and means operative to eil'ect relative axial focusing adjustment of said reflector and said lamp and holder comprising a coil spring coaxial with and extending longitudinally of said holder and adapted to maintain said contacts in engagement during such focusing.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

GEORGE V. C. VREELAND. 

